Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in western Uganda and covers approximately 1,978 square kilometres. The park lies along the equator and is framed by the Rwenzori Mountains, with Lake Edward and Lake George forming important parts of its landscape. Its varied habitats include open savannah, forests, wetlands, lakes, crater areas and riverine environments. The park is home to more than 95 mammal species and more than 600 bird species, making it an important destination for both wildlife viewing and birdwatching. Visitors can experience wildlife such as the elephants, buffaloes, hippos, Uganda kobs, waterbucks and other herbivores, while predators include lions, leopards, spotted hyenas and side-striped jackals. The park also supports several primate species, including chimpanzees, black-and-white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys and olive baboons. The Kasenyi Plains are among the areas associated with game viewing, while the wider park offers changing scenery as visitors travel between savannah, woodland, lakes and forest habitats. The park's position where East African savannah meets the Congo forest region also contributes to its exceptional variety of birdlife. One of the park's most distinctive wildlife experiences is found in the Ishasha Sector, where lions are known for resting in trees. Experiencing a lion high in a fig tree is a particularly distinctive safari experience, although sightings and behaviour are naturally unpredictable. The park can be visited throughout the year. Weather conditions and seasonal changes can influence wildlife movements, road conditions and the overall safari experience. Visitors should therefore choose travel dates according to the activities and wildlife experiences they want to prioritise.

Discover the Kazinga Channel, Ishasha and Primate Experiences

The Kazinga Channel is one of Queen Elizabeth National Park's most important attractions. The channel connects Lake George and Lake Edward and is renowned for its concentration of wildlife along its shores. Samton Safaris can organise boat cruise that provides an opportunity for visitors to observe hippos in the water, crocodiles along the shoreline, elephants and buffaloes coming to drink, and numerous waterbirds. For visitors interested in primates, Kyambura Gorge provides opportunities for chimpanzee tracking in a riverine forest environment, where the surrounding protected areas also have forest habitats supporting monkeys and other wildlife. Maramagambo Forest offers another contrasting environment, with forest wildlife and birdlife alongside crater lakes and other natural features. The Katwe Explosion Craters provide scenic viewpoints and evidence of the area's volcanic history, while crater lakes occur across the wider landscape that adds another dimension to a safari. Some of the crater lakes can also attract waterbirds, including flamingos at suitable sites.

Queen Elizabeth National Park also offers opportunities to learn about the communities living around the protected area. Visitors engage in cultural experiences which include storytelling, traditional music and dance, and interactions connected to communities such as the Bakonzo, Basongora and Banyabindi. These experiences provide additional insight into the relationship between the park and the people living around it.

Encounter Safari Activities, Birdwatching in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Samton Safaris game drives are one of the main ways to explore Queen Elizabeth National Park, with opportunities to sight for elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, lions, leopards and other wildlife across the savannah. The Kazinga Channel boat cruise provides a different perspective, bringing visitors closer to aquatic wildlife and birds along the waterway. With more than 600 recorded bird species, the park's combination of wetlands, lakes, savannah, woodland and forest creates habitats for a wide range of birds, birdwatching is another major attraction. Bird species associated with the park include African fish eagles, papyrus gonoleks, pink-backed pelicans and saddle-billed storks, among many others. Visitors can also combine wildlife activities with chimpanzee tracking, nature experiences and cultural encounters with customised tours arranged by Samton Safaris. Queen Elizabeth National Park is particularly well suited to itineraries that connect Uganda's savannah wildlife with forest and primate destinations. Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed and depend on season, animal movements, weather and local conditions.

Ready to explore one of Uganda's most diverse safari destinations? Book your Queen Elizabeth National Park safari with Samton Safaris and discover tree-climbing lions, elephants, buffaloes, hippos, chimpanzees, spectacular birdlife and the famous Kazinga Channel.

From game drives in the Kasenyi Plains and Ishasha Sector to boat cruises on the Kazinga Channel and chimpanzee experiences in Kyambura Gorge, Samton Safaris can help create a Uganda safari around the experiences you want to explore.